Miami, FL
The Déjà Vu of Watching the Miami Dolphins
Thursday night’s game between the Miami Dolphins and the Buffalo Bills began in an ordinary way—pre-game chatter about the Bills’ dominance of the Dolphins in recent years, the coin flip, kickoff, touchback. Only a few years ago, that normalcy—new kickoff rules aside—would have seemed a little strange. Earlier in the week, the Miami-Dade Police Department had released body-cam footage of cops pinning the Dolphins’ star wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the ground and putting him in handcuffs, after he’d been pulled over for speeding and not wearing a seat belt while driving to the Dolphins’ stadium before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In the video, Hill had handed over his license to the officer. “Give me my ticket, bro, so I can go. I’m gonna be late. Do what you gotta do,” Hill had said, and then rolled up his window. The officer had knocked on the window and ordered him to keep it down, and, when Hill told him to stop knocking, the cop had ordered him out of the car. Hill started to comply; another cop never gave him a chance. He grabbed Hill by the neck. Within seconds, Hill had been put on the ground, face down, a knee in his back, his wrists placed in handcuffs. “Stop crying,” the officer said. Later, when Hill was seemingly too slow to sit, he was forced to the ground. A teammate saw the scene and pulled over to help; he was also given a ticket. Another player who stopped was also put in handcuffs.
After about twenty-five minutes, Hill was released; a Miami Herald reporter later said that the Dolphins had to intervene so that Hill and his teammate were not arrested. That afternoon Hill caught seven passes for a hundred and thirty yards, including an eighty-yard touchdown, to help the Dolphins beat the Jaguars. He celebrated his score by pretending to be handcuffed; a teammate pretended to unlock them.
After the game, Hill was incredulous. “Right now, I’m still trying to put it all together,” he said. “I still don’t know what happened. I want to use this platform to say, What if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill? Like, worst-case scenario.” Everyone knew what the worst-case scenario was. Everyone knew, because millions of people knew that George Floyd, and Philando Castile, and Tyre Nichols, and too many Black men to name here had been killed by police during routine stops. And everyone knew, too, because in 2016 Colin Kaepernick had sat and then kneeled before every game during the national anthem so that no one could forget.
For the better part of two seasons, the fallout from Kaepernick’s refusal to stand, and the decision of some other players to join him, and the decision of every N.F.L. team not to employ him afterward, had dominated conversations around the league, and, by extension, around the country. Black Lives Matter signs, now faded, are still up in the corners of some windows, and it is no longer controversial—even within the N.F.L.—to point out that Kaepernick had a point. But it has been years since hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to protest the unjust killing of Black men. And nobody kneels anymore.
During the preparations for the Bills’ game, the Dolphins’ starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, said that Hill had been talking to some on the team about planning “something, to help change some things.” He went on, “He’s come up with a couple ideas and we’ve gathered to talk about what we wanted to do. Obviously, we’re going to worry about this week, but next week we’ll get back together . . . and we’ll talk about how we can do something to change what is going on.” Something, some things, something—it was all very vague. But what did anyone expect? The Dolphins’ owner, Stephen Ross, had already founded a nonprofit called RISE, in 2015, to “address the scourge of racism,” and bankrolled it with thirty million dollars; he had also hosted a fund-raiser for Donald Trump’s reëlection campaign, in 2019. (In 2020, Trump, as it happens, banned federal contractors from racial-sensitivity training.) The N.F.L. itself had, for a time, stencilled the words “END RACISM” in the end zones of every field.
“I’m just being a Black man, that’s it,” Hill called out at one point during the encounter. “I’m just being Black in America.” One officer told him not to make it about race, pointing out, apparently, that the other officers were people of color. Fine: it was about power. Historically, the power most often afforded to a few Black men has been fame, which is fickle and flimsy, though it counts. What if Tyreek Hill weren’t Tyreek Hill? If he weren’t so spectacularly good at playing football, he might not have been playing in the N.F.L.—not after he pleaded guilty to domestic assault for punching and choking his pregnant girlfriend, and was accused of at least two other instances of assault, which he has denied. The overuse of force against Hill at a traffic stop was not the first time that law enforcement had failed. Most people with power don’t abuse it; it’s more egregious when they do. The most overzealous officer was almost immediately placed on administrative leave; Hill praised the police, talked about “bad apples,” and called for that officer to be fired.
If that incident hung over the first half of the game against the Bills—or at least a little shadow of it, reduced to a sleekly produced interview with Amazon Prime—by the end it was mostly forgotten. In the third quarter, with the Dolphins in the red zone and in need of a touchdown, Tagovailoa saw a seam and ran for the first down and more. As the Bills’ safety Damar Hamlin stepped up to make the tackle, Tagovailoa lowered his helmet and crashed into him. As he fell, he threw up his right arm in an awkward way and hit the ground—a fencing response, which is an automatic reaction to a serious brain injury. Medical staff immediately rushed onto the field, and players began to kneel. It was Tagovailoa’s fourth diagnosed concussion in five years, most recently in 2022. His coach, Mike McDaniel, walked over to him as he was treated on the field, his face the picture of haunted dread. As Tagovailoa walked off the field, McDaniel reached up and kissed him, tenderly, on the side of his head.
After the game, talking about Tagovailoa’s injury, McDaniel was solemn and grim. Asked about what might be next, McDaniel deflected the question. “Right now, [it] is more about getting a proper procedural evaluation tomorrow and taking it one day at a time,” McDaniel said after the game. “The furthest thing from my mind is, What is the timeline? We just need to evaluate and just worry about my teammate.” Everyone was sober, emotional. More than a few coaches and players wondered aloud, publicly, whether Tagovailoa should retire. The next day, McDaniel pleaded with people not to speculate about Tagovailoa’s future. It would only make his situation worse—there was no way that it would help. All that mattered was Tagovailoa’s health in the here and now.
He was right. And yet there was the strange sense of witnessing so much distress and concern, and taking it on its own terms, as if McDaniel hadn’t sat in that very seat before, with much of the same stress and concern, as if we hadn’t watched Hamlin, the Bills player who had made the normal football play on Tagovailoa, being resuscitated on the field in 2023 after another normal football play; as if we hadn’t been talking about these very issues for so long. For a decade, the life-threatening danger of football had been at the forefront of conversations surrounding the N.F.L. And, in the past few years, the issues of racial inequality and injustice had engulfed the sport. The intensity of those conversations, which had seemed like crises for the league, can seem, lately, also like things of the past. No one talks glibly about police brutality or head injuries anymore, nor urges players to toughen up. But, even for thoughtful people who genuinely care about the players, the issues no longer seem existential for the sport. Freak accidents, bad apples—same old story. ♦
Drivers and cyclists in downtown Miami say repeated openings of the Brickell Avenue Bridge during rush hour are creating major traffic headaches on both sides of the Miami River.
“It’s a headache for sure,” downtown resident Cameron Beal said.
According to signage from the Florida Department of Transportation, the bridge is not supposed to open during weekday morning and evening rush hours from 7:35 a.m. to 8:59 a.m. and from 4:35 p.m. to 5:59 p.m. The bridge also remains closed to marine traffic from 12:05 p.m. to 12:59 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Outside of those restricted periods, the bridge is scheduled to open every hour at 30 minutes past the hour, according to FDOT signage.
Still, residents on both sides of the river told CBS News Miami they have seen the bridge rise during restricted times, leading to backups that can last between 20 and 40 minutes.
“It adds 30 to 45 minutes to our commute,” said Jose Perraza, who lives downtown with his wife.
Perraza said the couple often uses bicycles to avoid vehicle traffic, but even then they still find themselves waiting to cross the river.
“The bridge goes up, so we’ll rush to another,” Perraza said. “It’s just a mission to have to wait so long. Mind you, the bridge is up all the time. The boats will just pass and pass and pass. It never seems to come down. It’ll come down for two minutes then right back up.”
Software engineer Ihor Karas noticed the same pattern and decided to track bridge activity himself. He created IsBridgeUP.com, a website that uses state traffic data and bridge camera feeds to alert users in real time when the Brickell Avenue Bridge is open.
“Every time I need to go across the bridge, I feel like it’s going up,” Beal said.
Karas said data collected over the past month showed multiple bridge openings during restricted rush hour periods. He hopes the information can help city leaders better understand the traffic impact.
“I will show the website to city government and show the real problem,” Karas said.
The Florida Department of Transportation owns the bridge and controls its day-to-day operation on site. CBS News Miami said it called and messaged FDOT for comment but did not receive a response before deadline.
The U.S. Coast Guard, which oversees bridge operations, said federal regulations require the bridge to open for certain exempt vessels even during restricted hours.
In a statement to CBS News Miami, the Coast Guard said:
“Governed by federal drawbridge regulations 33 CFR 117.305(a) and (d), the Brickell Avenue Bridge on the Miami River operates under specific scheduling restrictions. While restricted during set weekday hours, the bridge must open at any time for exempt vessels, including public U.S. vessels, tugs, tows, and vessels facing emergency situations where delay poses a threat to life or property. To ensure navigation safety and structural integrity, the U.S. Coast Guard requires the bridge to open for these exempt vessels even during designated closure periods. The bridge owner, Florida Department of Transportation, has the responsibility to ensure the drawbridge operates in accordance with federal drawbridge regulations. Additional questions may be directed to FDOT.”
“The Coast Guard will investigate any complaints regarding compliance to determine if a violation occurred,” the agency said.
Two active wildfires burning in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are reducing air quality and visibility across parts of South Florida Monday as firefighters continue working to contain the flames, according to the Florida Forest Service and other state and local agencies.
The fires are highlighted on Florida’s Active Wildfire Points map, an interactive tool that tracks current wildfires across the state and provides updated information on acreage burned and containment levels. You can check it out here:
Max Road Fire in Broward
The largest blaze, known as the Max Road Fire, was burning west of U.S. 27 and Pines Boulevard in western Broward County. Officials said the fire has scorched at least 5,000 acres as of Monday morning.
Smoke from the Max Road Fire was drifting north and northwest Monday morning due to a light southeast breeze.
Florida City fire in Miami-Dade
A second wildfire, called the 172nd Avenue Fire, is burning near Florida City in southern Miami-Dade County. Officials said the fire has burned at least 210 acres as of Monday morning.
Smoke from that fire remained relatively stagnant because of calm winds, though conditions later Monday could push smoke northward toward Leisure City and Homestead.
The 172nd Avenue Fire temporarily forced the closure of Card Sound Road and restricted access to the Florida Keys over the weekend, though the roadway has since reopened.
Authorities are still urging drivers to use caution in the area because heavy smoke could continue reducing visibility. Residents across South Florida are also being advised to monitor local air quality conditions as firefighters work to bring both blazes under control.
Florida dry season fuels wildfire risk
Florida is currently in its dry season, a period that typically runs from October through May and brings an increased risk of wildfires across the state.
According to the Florida Forest Service, peak wildfire season usually occurs during April, May and June, when dry vegetation, low humidity and windy conditions can help fires spread quickly.
The National Weather Service said ongoing drought conditions and low relative humidity have elevated wildfire danger across much of Florida in recent weeks. Officials are urging residents to avoid outdoor burning and remain alert as firefighters continue battling dozens of active wildfires statewide.
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(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM )
The Miami Dolphins are in the middle of a rebuild under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. This offseason, Sullivan cut ties with players like Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa and then traded away Jaylen Waddle.
Moreover, the team brought in former Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis, drafted Kadyn Proctor in Round 1, and selected several pass catchers to help their new signal-caller. Miami also drafted Jacob Rodriguez to be their leader on that side of the football, potentially.
While there’s still more work to be done, Sullivan has laid the foundation for what he hopes will turn the Dolphins into a contender in the AFC. Nonetheless, one person who is fully on board with what Miami has done this offseason is former Dolphins wideout Jarvis Landry.
“I love the [Proctor] pick,” Landry said in a May video from “4th And South.“ Miami Dolphins, the GM, hey, he’s doing amazing. He is doing amazing. I’m excited to see how [the Proctor pick] works out. Malik Willis will get some protection up front. I still want to see them add more firepower on the edges, maybe even at tight end, and keep building.
“They added pieces on the defensive side of the ball during the offseason, including a couple of cornerbacks and safeties and things like that. But I would love to see them get Malik Willis a couple more weapons on the outside to do his thing [as] Jaylen Waddle left [and] Tyreek left.“
Jarvis Landry Excited About Miami’s Future
Moreover, Landry provided an exciting outlook for Miami under Sullivan as the general manager is only getting started in molding the Dolphins in his vision, especially with the draft capital that the team had in this past draft.
“I think the city of Miami is excited,” Landry added. “With all of these draft picks and the draft capital Miami acquired, and don’t forget, they traded back and got more value and more picks [in this past draft]. I think they’re the only team to have this many picks in this year’s draft, which is probably a record.“
Dolphins Were Reportedly Looking at a Veteran Wideout
While Landry would like for the Dolphins to add another receiver, they were reportedly trying to do that. On May 8, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter shared that Miami was one of the teams interested in signing Jauan Jennings before he made his decision to sign with the Minnesota Vikings.
“The interesting thing is I was told that there were a few other teams,” Schefter said during a May 8 appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show.” “I can go back and get the exact list. I think it was the Dolphins, the Commanders. There was somebody else that was interested.
“The Vikings were the only team, I believe he wound up visiting at all. That was the only one. The other teams, the Chiefs and Commanders also were interested in Jauan Jennings. New Orleans also expressed a little interest.”
Now, for the Dolphins, it will be interesting to see whether they look at other veteran wideouts who might be a good fit, especially as a mentor for the group.
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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